Navigate down the tree to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > OneDrive. On the right side, you’ll see a list of settings you can tweak. Double-click on Prevent the usage of OneDrive for file storage and change it from Not Configured to Enabled. Click OK to save the changes, then restart your computer to apply them.

Once you’ve done this, OneDrive essentially disappears. While it’s technically still present, this setting prevents OneDrive from syncing, hides it from the File Explorer, and you can’t access the OneDrive app. That’s as good as removed for most people.

Windows 10 Home: Hiding OneDrive

On Home versions of Windows, you don’t have access to the Group Policy editor. But you can perform essentially the same steps by hand to remove all instances of OneDrive.

Find the OneDrive icon (it looks like two clouds) in the System Tray at the bottom-right of your screen. If you don’t see it, click the little arrow to show hidden icons. Then, right-click the OneDrive icon and choose Settings.

Uncheck every box on the General tab, then visit the Auto save tab. Set the options here to This PC only and uncheck the boxes below. Next, go to the Account tab and click Choose folders. Click the box to Sync all files and folder in my OneDrive twice to clear everything and press OK. This removes everything in OneDrive from your PC while still keeping it safe in the cloudWhat Is The Cloud?What Is The Cloud?The Cloud. It's a term that gets thrown around a lot these days. What is the cloud, exactly?Read More.

Now, go back to the Account tab in OneDrive settings. Click Unlink this PC to remove your account from OneDrive and close the Welcome window that pops up, as you don’t need it. Finally, open a File Explorer window. Find OneDrive on the left sidebar, and right-click it to open its Properties. Check the Hidden box on the General tab to prevent it from showing. Right-click on the OneDrive icon in the System Tray one last time and click Exit to close it out.

The Nuclear Method (Not Recommended)

Since Windows 10 launched, another method to uninstall OneDrive has made its rounds. This one runs a quick uninstall on the OneDrive app, but there are several unknowns surrounding it. It’s not clear how to get OneDrive back after using this method, and it might leave other pieces of the service around.

This doesn’t prompt you for confirmation, but it removes the OneDrive app and service. Again, one of the above, less-intrusive methods is a better choice for most users.

Life Without OneDrive

Though OneDrive is hooked into newer versions of Windows, it’s thankfully not hard to remove. Whether you don’t trust cloud storage or prefer using another provider, you can decide whether to use it on your own. Once you perform one of these processes, your Windows computer becomes free of OneDrive.

I used the Disable_SkyDrive_Integration.reg file to fix this because I don't have Windows 8.1 Pro. Before I ran the reg file I renamed it to be Disable_SkyDrive_Integration.reg.txt file to see what is inside the file before downloading and executing :

; This is how to DISABLE SkyDrive
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsSkydrive]
"DisableFileSync"=dword:00000001

; This is how to ENABLE SkyDrive
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsSkydrive]
"DisableFileSync"=-

I just decided to switch to Linux a year ago. Ubuntu 14.04 -- things ACTUALLY WORK! I still have a Windows 7 virtual machine for those programs that don't know how to or care to make for Linux... like GoToMeeting/Assist -- which is odd since it's all Java anyway.

I can't really think of anything I would need to hide from the NSA anyway. Maybe they are fascinated by family photos and ebooks. I doubt they care about pirated content even. And it's not like they can't build a profile 1000 other ways based on any kind of web presence, shopping habits, lifestyle, etc.

There's no such thing as secure... there are only things that haven't been hacked yet or vulnerabilities we haven't detected. If you use the internet or ANY cloud service, you are accepting that, eventually, personal information will be exposed, even if you are careful. Being an active member of any socially networked entity means you make trade offs. One of the main one's being convenience vs security.

Here in the US, we have an unhealthy obsession with throwing away liberties for a false sense of security. Why not just take a healthier approach and just live your life? Yes, stand up for yourself and make an effort to improve the state of things where it adds value, but not so much that you make your life into an obstacle course. Even if you do have something you want to hide, I bet the NSA is a whole lot less capable than you think. The gov't has only recruited 1/4 of the 6000 security experts they wanted by 2016, and many of them have left for better offers at private companies. So if I'm the only mechanic in a 12 car garage, I can still only work on one car at a time. If I hire a few more guys that can only do oil changes, well that doesn't help much either at a full service shop.

I, for one, really like Microsoft's OneDrive. To be frank, you can't say it's filled with bloatware because it simply isn't. It's a simple file syncing service that puts your data into the cloud just like Dropbox does. However, Dropbox has more features. What happens when you plug in a thumb drive? This 'dropbox import' box appears. Annoying! OneDrive doesn't have anything like that.

Another thing, saying that OneDrive is bloated because Microsoft has online document editing tools is absurd. It's akin to saying Dropbox is too bloated because their website has a Privacy statement. It's something on the webite that you can access, but which doesn't necessarily have to do with file syncing. It's not on your computer, and it's not in the way of anything.

I think you guys are just hotheads who want something to complain about.

Just to be clear, I use all three of the services -- Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and more, even. Each of them has their own benefits, and I really want to mention that Bing Rewards members can access an easy 100GB for Onedrive by doing searches. Though I do wish that each of them would include the simple sharing tools that Dropbox has.

OneDrive would not allow sharing without giving them phone number (or send e-mail from outlook.com account for that matter), how about that for a reason? (I can't share my files, but no problem with Dropbox or Google)My Microsoft email account is receive only and OneDrive is back-up only! For all the complaints that Google is creepy, at least they don't force you to give up your phone number!

There maybe good reasons to use Dropbox over Onedrive but this article didn't convince me. Onedrive with the ability to use online Word, Excel maybe all most people need. Same could be said for Google Drive and the online Docs or iCloud and those online Apps. If you like using OpenOffice (I used for years) and Dropbox, fine. Tell us how you use to save time, effort, work from anywhere. Tell us how you organize DB for your needs, work and home. Tell us how to disable Odrive if we don't want to use and it's messing the power of a Win 8 machine because it's always on, but don't just say it's bad and Dropbox good. That's not a good article.

The point of the article is to teach Windows 8.1 Pro users how they can disable OneDrive, not to make any argument that you should be using Dropbox over it. I mention Dropbox a single time, and in that same breath I even state that I don't think OneDrive is bad: "It’s not a particularly bad product, it’s just that I feel Dropbox does better work of the same job."

"I am not sure of how to comment on NSA access. I am not aware of it."

Well of course you're not aware of it, wouldn't be the world's best intelligence agency if you were, would they.

And all cloud services that have US servers, US associations (thus susceptible to the Patriot Act) are vulnerable. That is why many non US IT companies are seeking alternative cloud providers, building their own - or quite simply, not using the cloud, since the cloud industry is dominated by US providers.

Craig S. So what's the deal if it is a MS run service? how does that make it different to any other service? they are all run by some company. OD is available across devices too, I have it on my PC at work, Mac at home, Android phone and iPad.. what's your point? "As for the extras of word processing, etc., for me that’s bloat. If I want word processing, I go to OpenOffice. If I want a calendar, I’m using Google Calendar." So you don't call extra software to install on your device boat? that's illogical. "I think the numbers of users between the two services would speak to which is more popular, and I’m confident that Dropbox is ahead in that regard." Just because something is more popular doesn't mean it's better, I think anyone would agree with that.

As a service that caters first to Windows users, I'm not a fan of it. I don't have complete confidence in the availability of OneDrive far into the future when it comes to competing devices or operating systems. A service like Dropbox won't have the potential for any confliction like that. They do one thing, and have one interest, and that's cloud storage.

If I install OpenOffice, it's because I want a word processor. In that case, it's clearly not bloat. If OpenOffice started offering me cloud storage, I'd be uninterested. Word processing is what OpenOffice is advertised as and does best. I wouldn't want it giving me anything extra that isn't something that I see as a top-of-the-class type of service. I don't think anyone gets into OneDrive for the "extras" like their word processing is all I'm saying.

Is there a similar process if one does not have the Pro version? I so totally dislike using Sky/One Drive when I already use Dropbox. I don't use EVER MS cloud but I seem to be stuck with all those files/dlls on my system. This is the only PC that actually uses Windows anythiing as all my other equipment is on Linux distro and Android. Not happy at all that Sky/One Drive was "forced" onto my system.

I have both OneDrive and Dropbox on my Windows 7, 8.1 and Nexus 4. Been using them (the apps) for years and no problem, or at least major ones, so far. I really don't know what not to love about OneDrive. To me it is as good as Dropbox...if not better! Just like about everything else in this world, both have their respective strengths and weaknesses but like I said, no major issues. After all isn't it good to have more cloud storage for free?

Dropbox does not do a 'better work of the same job' unlike OneDrive or Google Drive, Dropbox is just a cloud storage service with no additional services such as word processing, spreadsheet, calendar etc. Not to mention the difference in what is offered... Free space, DB 2GB, OD 7GB, GD 15GB. For an extra $9.99/month you get an extra 100GB in DB and OD but a massive 1TB in GD. I think just about any alternative is better than what Dropbox offers unless of course they're paying you to advertise on their behalf.

It's a matter of opinion, but one thing I do suggest you take into account is that OneDrive is a Microsoft-run service. The availability of Dropbox trumps it across the board. Dropbox also offers services like Packrat, to guarantee shadow copies of the data you're backing up. Dropbox offers free space, too. As for the extras of word processing, etc., for me that's bloat. If I want word processing, I go to OpenOffice. If I want a calendar, I'm using Google Calendar. I think the numbers of users between the two services would speak to which is more popular, and I'm confident that Dropbox is ahead in that regard.

Ben is MakeUseOf's Gaming section editor and Creative Co-director. He holds a B.S. in Computer Information Systems from Grove City College, where he graduated Cum Laude and with Honors in his major. He's currently focusing on ramping up MUO's Gaming content to appeal to gamers both casual and hardcore.